The front door slammed, and Zain’s dad walked in, looking pissed. His tie was loose, and he didn’t even take his coat off. He just stood there, staring at the floor like he was trying not to yell.
Zain’s stomach immediately dropped. He could feel his mom tense up next to him.
His dad finally looked up, eyes sharp. “Do you even understand what you’ve done?”
Zain shifted on the couch, trying not to fidget. “Yeah. I get it.”
His dad’s voice got louder. “Do you? Ella’s family could’ve secured this business for us. This isn’t just about you!”
Zain felt his face heat up, but he forced himself to meet his dad’s eyes. “I know it’s not. But I can’t marry someone just because it helps your business.”
His dad threw his hands in the air. “That marriage would’ve meant stability! You think that comes around often? You think feelings are more important than that?”
Zain clenched his jaw. “I’m not gonna ruin her life for money.”
His mom finally cut in, her voice calm but firm. “He’s not a contract, he’s your son.”
His dad glared at her for a second, then looked away like he didn’t wanna fight with her either.
“I’m disappointed,” he muttered, rubbing his forehead.
Zain’s heart thudded painfully. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “But I can’t change who I am.”
His dad didn’t say anything for a long time. Eventually, he sighed and walked toward his office. “This conversation isn’t over.”
When he was gone, Zain slumped back on the couch, running a hand through his hair. His mom gave his knee a little nudge. “You did the right thing.”
Zain didn’t say anything, just stared at the ceiling.
His phone buzzed.
Theo: Wanna get ice cream or something?
Zain smiled.
Zain: Yes please. Pick me up.
The front door slammed, and Zain’s dad walked in, looking pissed. His tie was loose, and he didn’t even take his coat off. He just stood there, staring at the floor like he was trying not to yell.
Zain’s stomach immediately dropped. He could feel his mom tense up next to him.
His dad finally looked up, eyes sharp. “Do you even understand what you’ve done?”
Zain shifted on the couch, trying not to fidget. “Yeah. I get it.”
His dad’s voice got louder. “Do you? Ella’s family could’ve secured this business for us. This isn’t just about you!”
Zain felt his face heat up, but he forced himself to meet his dad’s eyes. “I know it’s not. But I can’t marry someone just because it helps your business.”
His dad threw his hands in the air. “That marriage would’ve meant stability! You think that comes around often? You think feelings are more important than that?”
Zain clenched his jaw. “I’m not gonna ruin her life for money.”
His mom finally cut in, her voice calm but firm. “He’s not a contract, he’s your son.”
His dad glared at her for a second, then looked away like he didn’t wanna fight with her either.
“I’m disappointed,” he muttered, rubbing his forehead.
Zain’s heart thudded painfully. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “But I can’t change who I am.”
His dad didn’t say anything for a long time. Eventually, he sighed and walked toward his office. “This conversation isn’t over.”
When he was gone, Zain slumped back on the couch, running a hand through his hair. His mom gave his knee a little nudge. “You did the right thing.”
Zain didn’t say anything, just stared at the ceiling.
His phone buzzed.
Theo: Wanna get ice cream or something?
Zain smiled.
Zain: Yes please. Pick me up.
ns 15.158.61.15da2
